Method of passively adsorbing immuno-reactive haptens to solid phases

Abstract

The method comprises covalently binding an immuno-reactive to a selected macromolecular carrier and then contacting the resulting hapten-carrier conjugate at a selected concentration in a liquid phase with a selected solid phase until a desired amount of the hapten-carrier conjugate is adsorbed to the surface of the solid phase. Unbound hapten-carrier conjugate is then separated from the solid phase, and the solid phase containing the bound hapten-carrier conjugate is recovered for use in quantitative immunoassays and the like. The solid phase can be, for example, surfaces of a test tube or microtiter well or the like. The method is simple and inexpensive and permits hapten assays of improved sensitivity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of readily adsorbing immuno-reactive hapten to a solid phase for an immuno-assay, which hapten otherwise would not readily adsorb to said solid phase and retain its immuno-reactivity, which method retains said immuno-reactivity and comprises: a. covalently binding an immuno-reactive hapten selected from the group consisting of digoxin, thyroxin, gentamicin, and triiodothyronine to a macromolecular carrier selected from the group consisting of bovine serum albumin, and human serum albumin through the use of a coupled agent selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde, and periodate with sodium borohydride;   b. contacting the resulting hapten-carrier conjugate with a solid phase selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, and polyvinyl acetate until a desired concentration of said hapten-carrier conjugate is adsorbed to the surface of said solid phase; and,   c. thereafter removing unbound hapten-carrier conjugate from said solid phase and recovering said solid phase containing said bound hapten-carrier conjugate.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said hapten-carrier conjugate is in a liquid phase when said contacting with said solid phase is initiated. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein said hapten-carrier conjugate is diluted to a desired concentration with a liquid diluent and then contacted with said solid phase while still in said diluent. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said hapten comprises digoxin, wherein said macromolecular carrier comprises human serum albumin, wherein said coupling reagent comprises periodate and sodium borohydride, and wherein said solid phase comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein said hapten comprises thyroxin, wherein said macromolecular carrier comprises bovine serum albumin, wherein said coupling reagent comprises glutaraldehyde, and wherein said solid phase comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said hapten comprises gentamicin, wherein said macromolecular carrier comprises bovine serum albumin, wherein said coupling reagent comprises glutaraldehyde, and wherein said solid phase comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein said hapten comprises triiodothyronine, wherein said macromolecular carrier comprises bovine serum albumin, wherein said coupling reagent comprises gluta aldehyde, and wherein said solid phase comprises polyvinyl acetate.